Wild View Yonder

Please visit Wild View Yonder, a collection of aerial photography from Shutter-Eye.

Sunday, December 27, 2009

Friday, December 25, 2009

Mt. Rainier in the Setting Sun


Mt. Rainier illuminated by the setting sun, a small lenticular cloud formation hovering over its peak.
Click on the image for a larger view.

Thursday, December 24, 2009

Delicate


A little sunshine on a frosty morning.
Click on the image for a larger view.

Saturday, December 19, 2009

Cold Snap


Dead trees frozen in a slow-moving river-bend.

Tuesday, December 15, 2009

Underside


The sun glares off icy lake water clinging to the pilings supporting this small car bridge.

Saturday, December 12, 2009

Stuck


What resembles a seal frozen in the ice atop this small lake is actually driftwood debris.
No actual animals were harmed in the shooting of this image.

Friday, December 11, 2009

Snoqualmie Falls in Winter


Taken on December 9th after several days of temperatures ranging from about 15F overnight warming to maybe 35F for the highs have frozen the spray to the usually shaded rocks.


Two days later on December 11th, a wider view.

Sunday, December 06, 2009

Station Fire Aftermath

In the late Summer of 2009, the "Station Fire" burned a huge area in the Angeles National Forest. Several months after the fire was finally extinguished, the roads have finally been repaired to the point where they have been opened to public traffic. Here are some images of the scene as it appeared on a weekend foray into that area.








Wednesday, December 02, 2009

Get off my rock!


Sea Lions 'negotiate' for a position in the sunshine.

Saturday, November 28, 2009

Startled!


A seabird startled by a breaking wave jumps up and catches its balance.


Positioning itself to land again perhaps on higher ground.

Wednesday, November 25, 2009

Anchor Chain


Along San Francisco's Marine Drive, on the way to Fort Point, this rusting anchor chain serves as a decorative guard rail.

Friday, November 13, 2009

Pine Cone

Tuesday, October 20, 2009

Autumn is Here


Early morning sun pokes through the trees, illuminating golden leaves against dark trunks.

Monday, October 19, 2009

Sandpipers


Sandpipers forage behind the receding waves.

Saturday, September 26, 2009

Water Under the Bridge


Ripples in the water cast their reflection onto the underside of the bridge.

Thursday, September 17, 2009

Las Vegas from "Eiffel Tower"


300 degree panorama of Las Vegas panorama from the "Eiffel Tower" at the Paris Hotel & Casino.
Click on the mage for a wide panorama view.




"Eiffel Tower"

 
"Eiffel Tower" at night.

Monday, September 14, 2009

Mt. Wilson Surrounded by "Station" Fire (with MODIS satellite image links)


Clean-up burn-off activity from another camera angle 9/11-14.


Clean-up burn-off activity 9/10-11.


A short clean-up burn running from about 9/9/09 18:50 to 9/10/09 02:50.


(updated) The Towercam is back and pointing toward the Hooker Telescope dome. Here's a time lapse from Sep 4 through morning Sep 9. This may be the final installment, as the active sections of the fire are now quite distant from the Observatory. I'll continue to collect images for a while though in case something interesting does happen.


This short time-lapse video was assembled from images captured from the UCLA Towercam atop the solar observatory tower at the Mt. Wilson observatory. It ends when the Towercam dropped offline as a result of fire damage to a communication conduit. The camera has since returned to service.

This is likely to be the final update to this segment as the camera has ceased updating. Speculation is that the fire has burned the telecom facilities that provide internet connectivity to the Observatory. The good news is that the fires in question are backfires set by firefighters. There is reason for cautious optimism that the Observatory will survive this ordeal.


Incident Information [Inciweb]

"Station Fire" Information [City of La Cañada Flintridge]

Observatory Status [Mt. Wilson Observatory]
UCLA Towercam

MODIS Satellite Imagery
9/02 20:55 UTC Satellite image [MODIS]
9/01 18:30 UTC Satellite image [MODIS]
8/31 21:05 UTC Satellite image [MODIS]
8/30 18:45 UTC Satellite image [MODIS]
8/29 21:20 UTC Satellite image [MODIS]

Driving up Angeles Crest Highway in the aftermath of the fire

The roads are closed and an eerie calm pervades the scene. Brush and trees are blackened or just completely gone. Wooden road signs and the posts that once held roadside guard rails are in places completely gone, leaving the metal rail just sitting on the ground. This post-apocalyptic scene continues for miles and miles of road. I did not shoot this video and have not yet seen this place for myself but when it is accessible, I will have to head up there and capture my own photographs.


At the height of the blaze.

Friday, August 28, 2009

Mt. Saint Helens Gigapan


Mt. Saint Helens
Click on the image for the full Gigapan.

Monday, August 03, 2009

Avalon Harbor Towards Evening


Avalon, Catalina Island, California illuminated by the late afternoon glow.

Monday, July 27, 2009

Thunderheads


Thunderheads shroud the Cascade Mountains

Friday, July 17, 2009

Dam It


Grand Coulee Dam
Click for Gigapan

Thursday, June 18, 2009

Summer


Nature is in full swing, doing its thing, at the end of Spring.


Berry interesting.

Tuesday, May 26, 2009

Tuesday, May 12, 2009

Just a Buck


A young buck rests in the shade.

Sunday, May 10, 2009

Mt. Rainier


Through 60 miles of atmosphere, the mountain displays its majesty.

Thursday, May 07, 2009

Jesusita Fire


Seen from a commercial flight leaving the San Fernando Valley, the smoke plume from the Jesusita Fire in Santa Barbara doesn't look all that large. It's barely visible in the MODIS satellite imagery (see links below). But it's concentrated in a built-up hillside residential area that hadn't burned in a very long time. Whipped by strong winds, the fire has destroyed many very lovely homes. The Santa Barbara Botanic Garden has sustained fire damage as well.

Satellite Image Courtesy of NASA MODIS

Click image to enlarge

Other satellite images:
MODIS Satellite Imagery (May 5th) [NASA]
MODIS Satellite Imagery (May 6th) [NASA]
MODIS Satellite Imagery (May 6th) [NASA]
MODIS Satellite Imagery (May 7th) [NASA]
MODIS Satellite Imagery (May 8th) [NASA]


Smoke plume spreading to the south.

Inciweb - Jesusita Wildland Fire [inciweb.org]

Fire Status:
  • Acres burned: 8,733
  • Percent contained: 98%
  • Expected full containment: 05/20/09
  • Evacuation orders and warnings: All were lifted as of 05/13/09
  • Cause: Under investigation (please call 805-686-5074 if you have any information pertaining to how the fire started)
  • Homes destroyed: 80
  • Homes damaged: 15
  • Outbuildings destroyed: 79
  • Outbuildings damaged: 2
  • Commercial property destroyed: 1
  • Commercial property damaged: 0
  • Total number of personnel assigned to the incident: 189
  • Engines: 11
  • Crews: 4
  • Bulldozers: 2
  • Water Tenders: 1
  • Fixed Wing Air Tankers: 0
  • Air Attack Aircraft: 1
  • Helicopters: 2
  • Firefighter injuries to date: 32
  • Estimated costs to date: $20 million

List of properties damaged or destroyed [Santa Barbara County]

Santa Barbara County 2009 Press Releases [Santa Barbara County]

Google Maps - Jesusita Fire Evacuation Permieter
Google Maps - Jesusita Fire Zone
Google Maps - Jesusita Fire - LA Times map
Google Maps - Jesusita Fire Map

Monday, May 04, 2009

Sunday, May 03, 2009

Lenticulars over Antelope Valley


Upper-level winds toss the clouds into fascinating shapes over Antelope Valley, CA.

Sunday, April 26, 2009

Just the two of us


Canada Geese [Wikipedia]

American Robin


American Robin [Wikipedia]

Monday, April 20, 2009

Trillium


Trillium [Wikipedia]

Sunday, March 22, 2009

Hearst Castle

The Hearst Castle is located on a coastal mountain high above the San Simeon area in California. Several different tours are available. A bus ride along a windy road from the Visitor center takes guests to the Castle grounds. Each tour covers a different part of the grounds. Be prepared to climb a lot of steps.

Below are a few pictures taken on a tour under overcast skies.


The Neptune Pool.


Grand entrance.


Columns at the Neptune Pool.


Column and ceiling detail.


Neptune Pool.
Click to enlarge.


Neptune pool from above.
Click to enlarge.


Ornate decorations on one of the guest "cottages".


Guest "cottage" entrance.


One of the guest bathrooms.


A guest bedroom.


Another guest bedroom.


Guest "cottage" door.


Statues in a water feature - main castle building in the background.


Entrance to the main building.


Inside that entrance.


Dining room. This must have been the inspiration for a mile-long table portrayed in Looney Toons.


Servants resting "seats" in dining room.


Dining room ceiling.


Ceiling detail (contrast stretched).


Ceiling detail in billiards room.


Projection room.


Indoor pool.


Panorama of the ranch seen from the Visitor Center. Castle is roughly in the middle.
Click to enlarge.


Closer shot of the castle from the Visitor Center.
Click to enlarge.